What about a Comic Book DU group?

[Kire]

We've got a Fantasy Literature group, an Animation group and a Gaming group. But, what about a book discuss the Comic Book?

Marvel vs. DC? Favorite Graphic Novel? Neil Gaiman or Todd McFarlane? Discussions of the upcoming Sin City, or Fantastic Four movies, or who's hotter: Ana Paquin as Rogue, or Rebecca Romijn as Mystique? We are geeks, after all.

I recently started collecting comic books after a few years away, and I was surprised to see how much quality stuff there still is out there. I don't realy know a lot of people that want to talk about that kind of stuff. I think this would be a perfect idea for a DU group. Do we still need 10 people with stars to pledge their participation? If so, please reply.

Thanks,
Kire

[Liberal Veteran]

1. What the heck? I'm game!

Let's talk comics!

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. Sure, I'm up for it.

I only read 2 comics right now (100 Bullets and Planetary), but Ive still thought a comics/graphic novels group would be nice.

[bloodyjack]

5. I've heard nothing but praise for Planetary

but I've never bothered to check it out, being a bit put off by the title, even though I enjoyed The Authority and what issues of Transmet I've read

And 100 Bullets is pretty great

[Spider Jerusalem]

6. You should check it out.

If you liked the Authority, you'll probably like this. Takes place in the Wildstorm universe, so there are references to The Authority and Stormwatch...and the villains of the piece are an evil version of what's obviously supposed to be the Fantastic Four...

[bloodyjack]

9. Maybe I'll pick up the first TPB once I've enough $ at my disposal

The "comic book group" proposals always seem to get the same respondents

[Redneck Socialist]

3. Sure, sign me up. n/t

[bloodyjack]

4. This is a good idea

I would participate

[Mojambo]

7. I'd be there for sure. n/t

[NuttyFluffers]

8. i'd prefer to incorporate it into Animation.

perhaps rename it or something. from animation to ... cartoons is a bad choice... hmmm, anime doesn't work... nor does illustrations... graphic media? hmm, english has no adequate all encompassing term for cartoons/animation/comics without denigrading it into "kids' stuff."

reason being is there's a lot to talk about in graphic novels (like "Maus"), comics, cartoons, animated movies, shorts, films, strips, poli strips, etc. but the Animation group is hardly filled and i kinda get tired when everything gets subdivided into miniscule parts.

like gaming, what if it was divided into CCGs, video games, board games, role-playing, hobbycraft, miniatures, etc. it'd be so subdivided as to be a bunch of slow as molasses message boards. and in the end, why bother with that when you can just go to a dedicated board instead?

i think comics should be talked about, they were/are immensely important to popular culture from deep in our post-modern past to our present day. perhaps throw up a few comic topics on the animation boards and lay claim to that place as a home?

[Kire]

11. comics are not animated

they stay in the frame

an·i·ma·tion Audio pronunciation of "animation" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-mshn)
n.

1. The act, process, or result of imparting life, interest, spirit, motion, or activity.
2. The quality or condition of being alive, active, spirited, or vigorous.
3.
1. The art or process of preparing animated cartoons.
2. An animated cartoon.

[NuttyFluffers]

12. i re-post in case you were confused.

perhaps rename it or something. from animation to ... cartoons is a bad choice... hmmm, anime doesn't work... nor does illustrations... graphic media? hmm, english has no adequate all encompassing term for cartoons/animation/comics without denigrading it into "kids' stuff."

reason being is there's a lot to talk about in graphic novels (like "Maus"), comics, cartoons, animated movies, shorts, films, strips, poli strips, etc. but the Animation group is hardly filled and i kinda get tired when everything gets subdivided into miniscule parts.
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it is perfectly understood animation is not comics. but they deal in the same realm of entertainment. just as Magic the Gathering and Monopoly and Mario can easily be encompassed by the broad term "games." just as Star Trek (tv series, movie, card game, everything under the sun), I Robot (book, movie), Hyperion (book), Halo (video game), and some art work by Julie Belle can all fall under the category of science fiction.

comics would only get pop comics, but not their TV series, or featured animated movie, let alone any other paraphenalia (like posters, art plastered on lunchboxes, etc) because it needs to be separated out? animation comes from comics, direct historical correlation; the two need to be together because they are related so strongly, far more so than video games and card games ever were. to divide up boards needlessly makes pitifully small communities. the only problem is the all encompassing term 'cartoon.'

in an ideal world cartoon would mean all of this, from political strips, to graphic novels, to inked pop comics, to CG enhanced dramatic comics, to classic hand drawn animation, to modern CG animation, to children themes, and adult themes. unfortunately, english vernacular sorely denigrates the term cartoon to "caricature drawings made to amuse children, be they still or moving." i'd be all down for a "Cartoon Board" but the problem is cartoon's vernacular meaning is an inadequate expression for the full range of its expression. if it was respected on the level of say, japan, then we wouldn't be having this discussion.

the DU Group boards are filled with 'undead' discussion boards, barely keeping any powerful flow. it doesn't need another one to languish.

[Kire]

13. how do you know it would languish?

there are no comic book threads in the front page of the Animation group, which is a pretty good group as it is, and shouldn't have its name altered to accomodate an insurgency like I am proposing

"comic books" are a unique media. the only place to post about them is in the lounge and those threads drop fast, real fast.

all of your proposals (i.e. cartoon board) are compromises, and seem to have "problems", so you say; so I say again, what about a comic book DU group?

my request for pledges of participation got 5 affirmatives in less than 10 minutes, until your party-pooping thread

I really don't care about how much respect it gets compared to this or that other media. I want to talk about the X-Men and GI Joe!

It seems you have a personal grudge against me for this?

[WCGreen]

10. I have been buying comics on and off for about

40 years now. Had a great collection then sold it when I turned fifteen and started to, well you know, girls. pot, it was he seventies...

I have recently picked up on the new DC comics, Justice League in particular. Marvel seems way too interested in all sorts of cross promotions...

I also under stand two favorites of mine from the 60's. the Doom Patrol and the Legion of Superheroes, are back with new story lines...

My only complaint is you have to go to a comic book store to get the books now......

And Batman, as always, is way cool.....

Funny, I really liked Marvel when Stan Lee was in charge but now, I think the movies are much better than the comic books...

[Ravenseye]

14. I'm all over a comic book group

I have a large pull list. count me in.

[semillama]

15. count me in.

i love comics and could go on all day about Ellis, Moore, etc. DCv. Marvel, independents, why my local comic book store is the greatest, etc, etc, etc.

It seems just silly to me to lump it in with animation. Seems to me that animation should be in with movies.

[ZoCrowes]

16. I've been picking up a few here lately

I read em when I was a kid and have found a few that I liked (there are some great writers out there.)

I'm reading Watchmen right now and all I can say is...wow...just...wow.

[Spider Jerusalem]

17. One of the all-time greats.

If you've not read it, you should check out "The Dark Knight Returns", too. And "Preacher". And "Transmetropolitan". And "100 Bullets". There are a lot of good, somewhat more "serious" comics out there...

[ZoCrowes]

18. I read Dark Knight when I was a kid

It was '95 or so and it fucked with my head (I was only 11 at the time) and I really did not understand it. I picked it up at the same time I did Watchmen and am planning on reading it here soon. I have a book on Captain Kidd and Shakey (Neil Young Bio) to read first.

[bloodyjack]

19. Oh, then you simply MUST check out The Dark Knight Strikes Again

I would recommend it to anyone and everyone! I forced my mother to read it at gunpoint, it was so good, and she pawned my gun and all her jewelry and sent the money to Frank Miller has a small token of her gratitude. In fact it is quite clearly the best thing Frank Miller has ever done and will ever do! It is the crowning achievement of all comicdom! I am being very serious!

[Ravenseye]

20. X-Books

Anyone here read any X-books? I've been picking up most of them but I'm kind of sick of the vomiting of titles onto the stands.

I'd be happy with just

Astonishing X-Men
Uncanny X-Men
New X-Men
Wolverine

They need to get rid of
Gambit
Rogue
Nightcrawler
Jubilee
Excalibur
X-Force
um....
and all the rest

Though Maddrox was a great little mini.

[bloodyjack]

22. Astonishing's actually pretty good

And I've read only an issue or two of New X-Men

Really, the only books I regularly follow are Y: The Last Man, Stray Bullets, Ex-Machina, and The Losers

Have you checked out Y: The Last Man? It's one of the best currently running series

[Ravenseye]

25. Astonishing is the best x-comic right now.

I like both the art and the writing that Joss Whedon is doing on that book. I was kinda doubtful before it got released but I really enjoyed the first arc and the return of collosus.

I haven't read Y:The Last Man. What's it about?

I do read Ex-Machina. I think it's kinda interesting. I thought it was a miniseries but it seems to just keep on going. Not my favorite book at the momment but it's still on my pull list.

[Ravenseye]

21. Favorite Marvel Comic?

I know alot of people are anti-marvel right now, but are there any Marvel titles you like?

For me, She-Hulk.

Personally right now I'd have to say She-Hulk is an outstanding comic. No 6 part long meaningless storyline series. No issues where nothing happens. It reminds me more of a comic book from the mid 80's with good solid plots and writing, and nice artwork, but not overpowering.

Also it's pretty funny. One of the peripheral characters is the Mad Thinker's Awesome Android (big huge android with a square block head) but they call him Awesome Andy as he's now good and though mute cause he has no mouth (he writes out what he says on a chalkboard he wears around his neck) he works as a gopher at She-Hulk's law office.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

23. Cool! Sign me up!

[bloodyjack]

24. I think you've got the requisite number of starred posters

in support of the creation of such a group, Kire :):):):):):):)::)):

[Kire]

26. I was about to say we need one more.

But I forgot to count myself. This is who we've got:

1. Kire
2. liberal veteran
3. spider jerusalem
4. redneck socialist
5. bloody jack
6. mojambo
7. Ravenseye
8. semillama
9. Zocrowes
10. Lone Wolf Moderate

Thank you to WCGreen, our non-starred DU'er who replied in the post.

[Kire]

28. uh oh, we need you to approve a mission statement

How's this? (blatantly copied from the DU Music Appreciation) Please respond in this thread.

The DU Comic Book Group exists for DU members to talk about their favorite comic book characters, universes, storylines, film adaptations or anything else of a comic book nature. This includes all comic book genres, past and present. Discussion of the comic book industry is also welcome.

[bloodyjack]

29. I would change the wording ever so slightly

"The DU Comic Book Group exists for DU members to talk about their favorite comic book characters, universes, storylines, film adaptations, Rob Liefeld's enormous talent or anything else of a comic book nature. This includes all comic book genres, past and present. Discussion of the comic book industry is also welcome."

Gets my :thumbsup: at any rate

Glad to see this proposal made it past the finish line this time!

[Mojambo]

30. That's a go for me.

[Spider Jerusalem]

31. Works for me.

[Redneck Socialist]

32. Works for me. n/t

[Liberal Veteran]

33. I like it. Sums it up nicely.

:)

[Ravenseye]

34. sounds good nt

[semillama]

35. That sounds like it covers it

hope it's a go!

[swimmernsecretsea]

37. This works for me!

Thanks

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

38. Cool. I like it.

[ZoCrowes]

40. Looks good to me

NT

[clovis29]

27. Punisher. Good comic,terrible movie

[Kire]

36. I posted the request in ATA

I hope we're close enough.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=120x28685

[Kire]

39. we did it

thanks everybody!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=300